they possess an internal skeleton of cartilage, but unlike sharks, manta rays don’t eat … This would have been used when these rays were much smaller bottom dwellers, to defend from attack. Electric rays have a different form of defense from other rays. Studies have shown that manta rays may recognize themselves in the mirror, an ability indicative of high cognitive function, also shown by dolphins, primates, and elephants. The most common one is them jumping out of the water, called breaching. Many stingrays (including manta rays) swim alone and only socialize with others during breeding and migration. Stingrays sting, skates defend themselves with barbs, and manta rays are too large to have many natural predators. They can defend themselves by lashing their tails out if threatened by a shark or other predator. Mantas have huge brains — the biggest of any fish — with especially developed areas for learning, problem solving and communicating. 4. Known as cleaning stations, the manta ray slowly swims along and the fish consume dead skin and parasites that are on their body. Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus Mobula (formerly its own genus Manta).The larger species, M. birostris, reaches 7 m (23 ft) in width, while the smaller, M. alfredi, reaches 5.5 m (18 ft).Both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths. Manta rays don’t have a way to defend themselves … 6. Manta rays will avoid their predators and although the research points to their diving deeper at night to feed, this could also be as a way to avoid shark predation, as sharks feed at night. But when it's time to mate, manta rays make it interesting. You could be extra sensitive to the power of love during the full moon. They must have this done on a regular basis. 26. Giant manta rays give birth to one pup every 2 to 3 years. Manta rays are closely related to sharks and in fact are chondrichthyan, i.e. 5. Manta Ray Social Behavior Facts and Information. Some rays can stun predators with an electrical charge. Instead, they stun their prey with electric shocks. The manta ray doesn’t do well in captivity at all. The diet of manta rays differs from other fish consuming the flesh of smaller species of living beings. The average life span of the manta ray in the wild is 20 years. Electric rays are smaller than many other types of rays and do not have barbs or stings. What do such big animals eat? Giant manta rays can dive more than 3,280 feet (1,000 m) underwater, but typically feed only 33 feet (10 m) deep. Yet as rays moved to being larger pelagic mantas, they no longer required the sting to defend themselves and the sting was removed from the mantas tail, leaving a small indentation and a cartilage stump where the sting was situated. They’re giant, charismatic and basically geniuses. 6. A ray’s tail is long and thin and some types have venomous spines that they use to defend themselves. "A large group of males chase a female for hours until only one male remains," says McCombs. How do manta rays protect themselves? Most rays live in oceans, but some types live in freshwater rivers. Give it a try! Giant manta rays … The fins on the side of a stingray's body act like wings to help it "fly" gracefully through the water. For fish, that title goes to manta rays. Manta Rays Do Elaborate Courtship Dances. Many stingrays have sharp, venomous spines along their whip-like tail. There are plenty of peculiar behaviors about the manta ray that have researchers curious and onlookers in amazement. The giant rays are playful, curious and might even recognize themselves in mirrors, a sign of self-awareness. Giant manta rays sometimes do somersaults (barrel rolls) while feeding to maximize their prey intake. Manta Rays have an impressive heat exchange system within their veins that allows them to keep their temperature more stable than most fish while diving deep. 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